Mannerisms are those unique little gestures
and movements we make that set us apart from those around
us. They are ingrained into our subconscious and we
rarely realize we're doing them. Often we learn these
traits from a beloved caregiver or other influential
people in our lives.

These
little idiosyncrasies can be used to give our characters
more depth and human appeal. They can also be used as a
clue to unraveling a mystery. A villain who breaks twigs
whenever he/she is standing near a tree or shrub can give
themselves away by the minute pieces of broken wood left
in their wake. Or as a poignant remembrance in a
tale of loss; a woman always stacked her shelves with the
labels facing out and her surviving spouse cannot open
the kitchen cupboards without weeping.

Rounding
out a character involves more than just relating their
conscious actions. What do they do when they're nervous,
happy, scared, bored or angry? Does the antagonist crack
his knuckles right before he becomes violent? Does the
protagonist twirl her hair between her fingers when she's
concentrating? There are a wide variety of mannerisms.

1)
tapping a foot2) chewing the inside
of the cheek3) biting
fingernails4)
greeting everyone with a hug or handshake5) a quick
smile in greeting or nervousness6) a toss
of the head7)
lowering the eyes flirtatiously or timidly8) running
fingers through hair9) snapping
fingers or cracking knuckles10) blowing breath out
through the mouth in exasperation

These are
just a few to help you think about your own idle gestures
and how you can incorporate them into your work.

Mannerisms can also help to identify the current mood of
your characters. An angry character who does not wish to
show her anger through voice may still inadvertently give
her mood away by her actions.

Here's an example:

"You're
angry with me, aren't you?" John tried to meet her
gaze, but she continued to stare down at her needlepoint.

"No I'm not," she said quietly. The needle
stabbed viciously into the soft cloth.

John chewed on his top lip, then stopped when he
recognized it as being a trait his father used when he
was nervous. It was a trait that has always annoyed him,
and yet he could not help but emulate it. "Then why
won't you talk?"

The silver needle darted into the fabric again. "Because
you lie to me." Another silver flash. "Because
you don't listen to me anyway, and because..." She
drew her breath in sharply as the needle embedded into
the soft flesh of her thumb.

If you
observe your co-workers, friends or classmates throughout
the course of the day, you should see many interesting
mannerisms that you might be able to use in your story.
Remember, just as the real people you observe make these
movements without thinking about them, your reader should
be able to read about your character's mannerisms without
really thinking about them.

Mannerisms
can help your reader visualize your characters with
greater clarity. A few well placed nervous ticks can help
define who your character is, but like any good thing,
mannerisms should be used with care and discretion.
Rather like chocolate. A little can satisfy a craving for
sweets, too much can lead to longer periods of time on
the tread mill.